During ESPN's annual media day, Pat McAfee vocally criticized the sports media landscape, claiming his show has been mischaracterized by various outlets. Responding to a question about journalistic standards from CNBC's Alex Sherman, he questioned the competence of sports media and highlighted instances where he believed they had erred, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. McAfee accused specific media members, including Andrew Marchand from The Athletic, of creating a negative image of him through misleading reporting. He also took aim at the site Awful Announcing for allegedly misusing footage from his show, hinting at possible legal action. Despite the backlash, McAfee expressed pride in his unique approach to sports commentary and emphasized his commitment to breaking news on his platform. His remarks sparked a mix of support and criticism from fellow ESPN personalities and reporters.